//------------------------------// // 6. Family Trees - Part 1 // Story: Sonic The Hedgehog x My Little Pony: Make Your Mark - Season 3 // by BronySonicFan //------------------------------// Many years ago, a Filly Misty was trotting around Bridlewood and laughing happily to herself. Suddenly, as she kept trotting, she saw a bunnycorn in front of her, so she stopped moving. "Aw, hi there!" Misty said happily, before the bunnycorn squeaked and hopped away. "Hey, wait up!" Misty trotted happily after the bunnycorn, chasing it around the forest while laughing, until she tripped and fell into a ditch. Misty felt a bit dizzy at first, but then, she saw a tree, the Wishing Tree. "Wow!" She exclaimed, standing up and noticing a blue glow besides the tree, which made her gasp in awe. "Where'd that come from?" Misty decided to surround the tree and look what the light was about, ending up finding a glowing door. "Whoa!" Misty said amazed, and she was about to touch the door, but then she heard something rustling behind her. "Huh?" Misty turned around and saw a shadowy figure in the fog, which made her scream in fear. Misty suddenly woke up on her bed in the Brighthouse, breathing heavily. She realized where she was in reality, and it didn't took long for her to deduce that she only had a nightmare... But was it a nightmare? "What was that about?" Misty asked concerned. "It felt so real. Like it's happened before. Or it's going to." Then, she removed her blanket off her, and she realized that her Cutie Mark was shining brightly. "That's new." Misty said a bit concerned. "Something is definitely up. I've gotta tell my friends!" After that, Misty stood up, then quickly fixed her bed with her magic, and then decided to go downstairs. In the Brighthouse living room, everyone was kinda busy. Sunny was making some pancakes; Knuckles was making Jutsu movements with his fingers, all to just slice a watermelon in half with a single punch; Hitch was teaching the critters some tricks with a flower crown as a squirrel jumped through it; Zipp was looking at her phone; Izzy was watching over Sparky, who still looks tired; Pipp was watching a rerun video of when they started Bridlewoodstock; Tails was trying to narrow down another possible place for Eggman to be hiding; Amy was cleaning her Piko Piko Hammer; Sonic was out taking his morning run; and Team Dark was playing poker... again. And then, as Sonic entered to the Brighthouse again while stretching, Misty rushed downstairs with a panicked look. "I think we're in danger!" Misty shouted suddenly. Everyone else looked at her confused, and the ponies all gasped in panic. "Is it Opaline?! Or Eggman?!" Sunny asked concerned, as she came by with the frying pan that still had the pancake, but it fell to the ground all the same. "That's not what I meant." Misty said sheepishly. "The bad guys are here?!" Hitch asked in panic, then he ran to grab Sparky. "No, I'm trying to tell you that––" Misty tried to say, but she was cut off again. "Look alive, ponies." Zipp said with a serious expression while flying. "And don't panic." "Guys, Misty is literally saying that––" Tails tried to call out, but he was also cut off. "Okay, we're under attack. But don't be afraid." Pipp sang, as she flew in the air and twirled around, before looking down and noticing that her friends deadpanned at her. "What? You said not to panic! Singing keeps my calm, okay?!" "Are they even listening to her?" Shadow asked. "No, and they won't until Misty snap." Sonic deadpanned, as he stood at Shadow's side with his arms crossed. "Is it always like this with them?" Rouge asked with a slight glare. "Yeah." Knuckles replied with a deadpan as well, as he removed his chef hat and put his boxing gloves again. "Welcome to hell." "If you could just listen." Misty tried to speak, just before Izzy stepped in and moved around. "I, Izzy Moonbow, of the Bridlewood Moonbows, call upon the Unity Crystals to protect this Brighthouse and everypony in it." Izzy said dramatically. That was the last straw to finish up with Misty's patience. "LISTEN TO ME!" The Unicorn's outburst made everyone else but the Mobians to flinch, and Tails slowly put away the party bugle that he suddenly brought out to make everyone listen to Misty. "And here I thought I'll finally use this thing again..." Tails deadpanned disappointed. "I should clarify. I don't think we're in danger right now." Misty said, which caused the ponies to sigh in relief and calm down. "But we absolutely could be soon." That made the ponies panic again, and Sonic facepalmed. "That's literally worse than saying we're in danger right now..." "What?!" Hitch asked in panic. "No!" Izzy said with fear, even hiding behind Knuckles. "What do you mean?" Pipp asked as well, also hiding behind Sonic. "CAN YOU ALL SHUT UP AND LET MISTY TALK ALREADY?!" Tails snapped as well, and that made everyone else flinch. Even Omega stepped a bit back, just to be sure. "Okay, back up, Misty. From the top. What's going on?" Zipp asked calmly, landing in front of her and pulling out her phone to record her words. "I had this scary dream, but it felt real." Misty began to explain. "There was this tall creature…" "Tall creature?" Sonic questioned. "Could be anything." "Sonic!" Amy pushed him on the shoulder with a frown, and Sonic rubbed it painfully. "Do you usually have scary dreams?" Sunny asked Misty. "I've been having a lot of them, actually." Misty admitted, then she moved to a chair and lay on it. "I'm exhausted!" "I wonder what they mean." Sunny said, while everyone else sat down as well. "A dream that feels real..." Shadow muttered with concern. "If it hasn't happened yet, could it be a premonitory dream?" "Or a deja reve." Tails suggested as well. "It might be something that already happened, and it's being transmitted as a memory." "Oh! I love dream analysis." Pipp said happily. “Like, did you know that everypony in your dreams is actually you?" "Ah!" Izzy cheered and hopped happily. "So I'm actually a tap-dancing tube of paint and the queen of the hermits crabs?!" "Yes." Pipp answered with a nod. "Oh, I'm so gonna enjoy myself next time I dream with Chilidogs!" Sonic said with a sinister grin, also rubbing his hands. "So I was one ballin in that dream, huh?" Shadow smirked to himself. "Or… maybe it wasn't a dream at all." Zipp suggested. "Maybe it was a vision!" "Of the future?" Sunny asked confused. "Exactly." Zipp said, then she stood up and walked to Misty. "You told us Opaline won't stop 'til she has all the power of Equestria, right? And she's kinda tall. So, the dream creature must be her!" "I don't know." Misty denied with her head. "I couldn't really see the creature. It was just a big shadow." "Maybe it was Eggman?" Knuckles suggested. "He's taller than all of us, and just a few inches shorter than Omega." "Affirmative." Omega agreed. "Dr. Eggman is 7 feet tall, I'm 7.2 feet tall." "I don't think it was Eggman, either." Misty denied again. "Like I said, I only saw a big shadow. Not the figure as it looks." "Hmm… So it could be a new threat?" Zipp suggested, then she brought out her phone. "Okay, describe it to me. Don't leave out any details. They could be crucial." "Uh… I can't really remember now." Misty said as she shook her head. "I just knew something very bad was about to happen." "Focus, Misty." Zipp said firmly. "If we don't decode your vision, we could be missing a vital clue to Opaline and/or Eggman's next move!" "Or maybe, we could give her some space to breath and not launch at her with questions that she can't answer when she's cornered in a couch, Zipp." Tails deadpanned and rolled his eyes. "I thought we were over this..." "Yeah. Go easy on her, Zipp." Sunny agreed. "Misty's been through a lot. Maybe these bad dreams are because you're still not used to live in the Brighthouse?" "It's been 8 months." Knuckles pointed out. "Although living your whole life with a tyrant like Opaline is not something easy to forget, now that I think about it..." "At least you don't live with Opaline anymore." Sonic said with a smile. "Yeah!" Pipp agreed. "We're glad to have you here, instead of living on the lair with Opaline as a double-agent or something." "And considering that you betrayed Opaline to help us instead, I doubt you had a chance at all to go back." Hitch pointed out with a smirk. "It still doesn't explains why I'm having this weird dreams." Misty said with concern. "Don't worry, I'm gonna help you crack this mystery wide open." Zipp told her with a determined smile. "We all will!" Sunny assured with a smile. "Take a breath and think back." "What else did you, Mist? Anything besides the strange and tall shadow?" Tails asked as well. Misty took a breath and tried to remember her dream, remembering she saw the Wishing Tree. "There was this big beautiful tree. Kind of like the one you planted for me in Zephyr Heights. But this one was in a forest and it had a door." "A door in a tree?" Amy questioned. "Isn't that in every single house in Bridlewood?" Sonic pointed out confused. "Hmm…" Izzy hummed, before she gasped with wide eyes. "But a door in a big tree sounds just like the Wishing Tree in Bridlewood! Other than the door part. Could that be the one?" "I… I don't know." Misty confessed concerned. "Before Bridlewoodstock and the Forest Critter Field Day, I don't think I've ever actually been to Bridlewood. I was just pretending to know about during our Unicorn sleepover." That made Izzy gasp deeply in shock after hearing about a Unicorn that's never been in Bridlewood before. "What's so surprising? We've known that for months." Knuckles deadpanned. "I'm so sorry, Izzy." Misty apologized. "I just––" She was cut off when Izzy suddenly rushed in front of her. "A unicorn who's never been to Bridlewood?!" Izzy cut Misty off and rushed in front of her in shock, but then she smiled with excitement. "What are we waiting for? We have to take you there. Now, now!" She exclaimed excitedly as she grabbed Misty off the chair and drag her to the door. "I have always wanted to see where the other unicorns live." Misty said with a little smile. "With more patience and with less events going around, that is." "I'll show you the Crystal Tea Room, and then we'll trot through the plaza and got to my house, and we'll go skipping!" Izzy exclaimed with excitement, then giving a crazy expression while shaking her head. Then, Zipp cleared her throat and got the Unicorns' attention. "And we'll see if Bridlewood helps Misty remember anything else about her vision!" "Uh, yeah, that too!" Izzy added with a smile. "I'll tag along this time." Shadow spoke, as he approached the rest. "Might as well take a look around. Besides, I need to get some air instead of staying between this four walls. Is giving me a headache." "As long as you don't use your Chaos Blast, do whatever you want, Shads!" Sonic said with a mocking smirk, making Shadow roll his eyes annoyed. "I'll stay to look after the Crystals." Rouge assured with her arms crossed. "Eggman hasn't showed up, nor Opaline, but is better to be prepared than mourn later!" "Thanks, Rouge!" Sunny said with a smile. "That actually makes me feel better. That way I can focus on our task without worrying about the Crystals getting stolen while we're out!" As Sunny said this, Omega headed towards the exit. "Hey, Meg!" Knuckles called him out. "Are you going, too?" "Negative." Omega replied. "I had a stablished compromise previously inscribed. I'm afraid I cannot cancel it." After saying that, Omega left the Brighthouse without explaining further what was this compromise. "He's going to spend time with the Pippsqueaks, isn't he?" Sonic deadpanned." "Yup/Uh-huh." Shadow and Rouge both replied at the same time with deadpans as well. "Oh no." Hitch said concerned, calling everyone else's attention, as they turned and saw Sparky still looking tired. "Come on, buddy. You still don't want to play?" Hitch held a crab plushie close to Sparky, but the baby dragon didn't even seemed to be interested on it. "What's going on with Sparky?" Sunny asked in concern. "He seems so tired lately." "I thought he would get his energy back after Opaline drained his Dragon Fire, but he's been sleeping for days." Hitch explained, looking at Sparky with concern. "He seemed fine after that, though." Sonic pointed out. "He was with us in the Starfall Islands as a ghost, and he seemed to be fine. Why is he feeling bad now of all times?" "No clue, but I'm getting worried." Hitch replied with a concerned frown. "Well, the Bridlewood forest is known to have many healing properties, especially the Wishing Tree!" Izzy explained cheerfully, before whispering to Misty. "I'm not saying that Bridlewood has it all, but... it has it all!" "It's worth a shot." Hitch said. "To the Marestream!" Sunny announced, as the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Shadow walked out the Brighthouse. Hitch placed Sparky on his back and exited the Brighthouse as well, while Rouge waved her hand in goodbye to them. Later, the Marestream flew across the sky, being piloted by Zipp, who was wearing sunglasses. "This is your pilot, Zipp Storm, speaking." Zipp said through the speaker. "I'm expecting clear skies and smooth conditions as we cruise into our destination: Bridlewood." The rest, sitting on the passengers cabin, heard the entire thing that Zipp said through the speakers. "Thank moons for that!" Misty said happily. "Woo! Listen to that unicorn speak." Izzy cheered, as she turned to Misty with a smirk. "Soon you'll know Bridlewood like the back of your hoof." "If there's time, I wanna forage for some exotic forest berries for my smoothies!" Sunny said excitedly, as she held up her smoothie cup. "Do you think Alphabittle will have recommendations?" She sipped from her smoothie. "What's a guy that serves tea gonna know about berries?" Knuckles asked confused. "Don't judge a book by it's cover, Knux. You never know what you'll find inside!" Amy pointed out with a smile. "Alpha-whattle?" Misty asked confused, but with a smile. "You'll see when we get there, Misty." Sonic assured her with a smile. Then, Pipp took out her phone and stepped in front of the rest. "Take a good look, Pippsqueaks!" In Maretime Bay, Omega was just walking around the town. However, he also had Seashell, Glory and Peach Fizz over him, as they were watching and listening to Pipp's livestream through Peach Fizz's phone. "'Cause this is the last you'll see of my muzzle for a bit!" Pipp announced. Back in the Marestream, Sonic looked at Pipp with a raised eyebrow. "Today, I'm going to unplug and practice 'mega-pega-mindfulness'." Pipp announced, while Izzy waved her hoof behind her with a smile as a greeting. "And I'll be scoping out supplies for my up coming all-natural Hoof and Mane product line!" She added happily. "Follow me for more details for when it drops. But, y'know, don’t follow me today. Get off your screens and get outside! That's where I'll be! Pipp Pipp. Bye Bye!" "You getting off your phone without anyone else telling you to do so?" Sonic questioned her, before smirking mockingly. "You're up to something, aren't you, Princess?" "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. I won't tell you~" Pipp replied mockingly, pulling out her tongue. "Besides, you are the one who said I spent to much time in my phone to pay you attention. Don't complain now that it's happening, goofball." Sonic snorted and rolled his eyes after his girlfriend said that. On the other hand, Hitch looked at Sparky, who was laying on the chairs, while Hitch held a block in his hoof. "I really hope Izzy's right about those magical healing powers. I'll try anything to help Sparky feel like himself again." "I'm sure we'll find something to help cure him." Sunny tried to assure. "And find the answers to Misty's vision!" Zipp called out from the cockpit. "We get it, Zipp. You're a detective." Amy rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, Tails seemed to be really focused on his Miles Electric, and Shadow was at his side, paying attention to what he said, but barely saying anything. "Eggman must be hiding somewhere in Bridlewood, I'm sure of it!" Tails declared. "I just need to look deeper." "The base you found along my teammates and Misty was empty, Tails." Shadow pointed out. "While I do agree that the doctor must be hiding in a place with little to no tech, like Bridlewood, it doesn't change the fact that he won't be an easy target to track down." "But I still must try!" Tails said. "Eggman's plan in the Starfall Islands backfired, true, but if he succeeded, Equestria would be doomed by now! I cannot allow him to be close to it! Not after what he did." "Is this a matter of justice, or a matter of vengeance, kid?" Shadow questioned, now looking at him. "Because if you want to beat the crap out of him for what he did to Sunny, then 1- That's my thing to do, and 2- That's not justice, that's vengeance. I know about it." "... What I want to do to Eggman is not important. Find him and stop him before he pulls out his next big plan to take over is." Tails replied with a frown. "You won't find him if you don't focus on the real question here: Can you track Eggman and help your best friend at the same time?" Shadow questioned, and that made Tails go wide-eyed. "As much as you want to deny it, you're not as fast as Sonic or me. You have to choose one over the other." That made Tails feel conflicted and concerned. On one hand, he had to recognize that he actually only wanted to find Eggman to make him pay... But on the other hand, could he really do that when Misty might need him at her side now more than ever before? "Starting our descent!" Zipp announced, as she lowered the Marestream to Bridlewood, while Misty and Izzy looked out the window. "Misty, welcome to Bridlewood. For the third time!" Izzy announced. Misty looked down and saw the forest of Bridlewood below them. "It's so… beautiful." She smiled. Seeing how excited and happy Misty seemed to be for being in Bridlewood again, Tails didn't even had to think it twice. He wanted vengeance justice for Sunny, but Misty needed him right now. He'll focus on help Misty remember her past. Finding Eggman and beat the crap out of him can wait. After the Marestream landed, the Mane 6 and the Mobians exited the vehicle. They landed right next to Izzy's old home from before moving to the Crystal Brighthouse. "Welcome to my home!" Izzy announced happily, as she gestured to it. "Villa Izzy. Tree Sweet Tree." Misty looked around amazed, and noticed Izzy's Unicycling projects. "This is all yours?" "Oh, well it doesn’t so much belong to me as it's a living part of the forest." Izzy explained cheerfully, then she rushed up to her old projects, the tune player she played and her tea fountain. "It's sort of like I've been tasked with tending to it and leaving it more beautiful than I found it." She stopped in front of Misty. "Know what I mean?" "I think so." Misty shrugged. "And now it's yours, too! All of Bridlewood is!" Izzy exclaimed. "Wow!" Misty said amazed, looking around with a smile. Later, the group was walking around Bridlewood, as Izzy gave Misty a tour around. Soon, they arrived to a place where they saw some paintings and sculptures around. "These were all made by unicorns?" Misty asked curiously. "You bet your crystals!" Izzy answered, as she ran and came behind a unicorn sculpture. "Every last one!" "So the whole 'being creative thing' is a unicorn thing." Knuckles muttered. "Does that mean that you're a unicorn with a more advanced capacity of creativity? I mean, your butt's tattoo implies that's your special talent." "That's a way to put it, yeah!" Izzy smiled cheerfully. As they walked ahead, Sonic stood way back to appreciate the sculptures and paintings better, but just as he turned back to the paintings, he noticed that one of the artists was not a pony, and the painting they were making showed The End in space, destroying Equis with a laser. That was concerning enough, but when the artist looked at Sonic, the Blue Blur's eyes widened in panic, since he saw Cyber Sonic staring at him and chuckling. "Crap. The visions are back!" Sonic complained, as he looked away and kept moving forward, while Cyber Sonic glared at Sonic and growled in anger. Meanwhile, Hitch looked at Sparky with concern, since the baby dragon was groaning in pain and not feeling good. Just then, Zipp went in front of Misty. "So Misty, anything jogging your memory yet?" "Actually, yes." Misty said with a smile. "Really?! Another vision?" Zipp asked excitedly, as she brought up her phone. "Oh. No, sorry. I meant this art." Misty said, as she looked at a painting of an Alicorn in a strange field. "I've never seen such beautiful images of ponies who look just like me before! Or... have I?" Zipp sighed and rolled her eyes disappointed, while Sunny and Tails came to her. "Give her time." Sunny reminded her. "I don't know how much time we have!" Zipp exclaimed with concern, as she decided to keep going. Tails groaned and rolled his eyes. "I love that mare, but Chaos dang it, she's stubborn like a mule!" "Welcome to my world, bro-in-law." Pipp said with a deadpan as she passed by him. Later, the group was at a stand, waiting for Izzy. Pipp was flying in a meditating position, gaining weird looks of Sonic and Shadow, while Izzy came walking up to them, levitating a box of treats and humming to herself. "These macarons are a Bridlewood delicacy made of edible fluffy-flowers." Izzy explained. Then, she levitated a macaron to each of her friends, each one grabbing it with their hoof/hand. "Oh! Cute!" Pipp exclaimed, bringing out her phone to take a selfie, but then she remembered something. "Oh, right. Mega-pega-mindfulness." She reminded herself, then took a bite of her macaron and gasped happily. "Neigh way! When I don't record it, I can really taste it!" "Wait a second... So anytime you were eating something while taking a selfie, you were not tasting it?" Sonic asked confused, worried and scared for his girlfriend. "Why don't you just take her phone and throw it away?" Shadow questioned. "Oh, I did it once." Sonic said with a blank look. It was just another day in the Brighthouse. Suddenly, Sonic was thrown from the window, as he screamed in fear while falling. Shadow stared at Sonic with wide and concerned eyes after hearing that. "She didn't took it well." Sonic pointed out. "Yeah... I noticed..." Shadow replied with an anxious look. Hitch looked at Pipp strangely as well, before he kneeled down to Sparky and tried to offer his macaron to him, but Sparky denied it, and reached his arms out to Hitch. "Aw, the little dragon wants a ride." A Unicorn filly walked by with her friend. "So adorable!" "It is adorable." Hitch admitted, before putting Sparky on his back and frown in concern. "But this is so unlike the usual, off-the-walls-with-energy Sparky!" Misty took a bite of her macaron, and then her eyes widened. "That is incredible!" She exclaimed happily. "And strangely familiar." "Taste can unlock new pathways to the brain." Zipp pointed out with a smirk, as he came up to Misty's side. "Are these treats making you think of anything new?" She brought out her phone again. "It's making me think… I need more!" Misty answered happily, eating the rest of her macaron and then levitating more from the box with a joyful smile. Zipp looked at her strangely, then sighed in disappointment and put her phone away. Meanwhile, Knuckles was happily chomping his Macaron. "Mmm. This tastes really good. I mean, I'm not really fond to taste mint, but is still good." However, Sonic heard what Knuckles said, and he slowly turned to see him, before rushing right in front of the echidna. "What did you just said?!" "That I'm not really fond to taste mint, but is still good?" Knuckles repeated himself confused. Then, Sonic suddenly grabbed him from his arms and shook him violently. "Yes! That exactly!" His eyes then widened in panic, and he slowly turned to see Tails, who was grinning sinisterly as he held two boxes of macaroni mint-flavored. "Must... consume... MINTS!" Tails said maniacally with a twitchy eye. "Tails..." Sonic called out, as he slowly approached him. "Put the boxes down, and walk away from them..." However, Tails did the exact opposite, and instead, he held them tightly and stepped back from Sonic. "Tails... Don't you dare––" Yet Sonic couldn't finish his sentence, because Tails spun his tails and then flew away at top speed, which made Sonic growl and follow him around. "COME BACK HERE, YOUNG MAN!!!" Sonic called out with anger. "YOU'LL NEVER CACTH ME ALIVE!!!" Tails replied maniacally. Later on, Sonic did caught him alive. Tails was rubbing his head painfully with a bored expression, and Sonic returned the macarons he bought, while the entire group was in an area of green crystals. "These crystals have gotta spark something for you." Zipp said to Misty. To this, Misty looked at one of said crystals a bit closer, while Tails groaned a bit annoyed. "She didn't learned anything from the Manesquerade Ball, it seems..." Tails mumbled to himself. "She's just worried that Eggman or Opaline might pop up, and she won't be able to do anything." Amy pointed out with a slight frown towards the young fox. "If anything, it'll be weird if she wasn't so paranoid." While Tails did understand her concern, he still didn't liked that her phase of being so defensive and 'detective' towards Misty was far from being over, even if the Unicorn mare is on their side now. "Actually, you're right." Misty said to Zipp, as she drew closer to the crystal. "They are just like the ones in my dreams." "Well, some guidance is better than none!" Sonic said with a smirk and his arms crossed. Then, Sunny picked a crystal as well, then turned to the baby dragon on Hitch's back. "Here, Sparky. Try holding this bliss-quartz." Despite feeling so tired, Sparky still accepted the crystal and grabbed it, then lay on it like if it was a pillow. "Oh, good eye, Sunny!" Izzy exclaimed. "Bliss-quartz boosts up positive energy! And helps you see things clearly. Clearly… clearly… clearly…" She imitated echo. "Positive energy?" Sonic asked, before looking mockingly at Shadow at his side. "Why don't you try to lay on them, Shads? You seriously need some positive energy boost... All the time!" "Shut up, Faker." Shadow replied with an eye roll and then moved away from him, while Sonic snorted and laughed. Now, Sunny walked to Misty and gave her a crystal as well. "Here, Misty. You try." Misty accepted the crystal and looked at it. "It feels… nice?" "And?" Zipp asked, as she brought out her phone again. "And it's so… pretty?" Misty continued, since she really didn't knew what to say. "Ugh!" Zipp groaned. "It doesn't seem like you're responding to anything here." Zipp walked off disappointed, while Misty looked down concerned, and Tails glared at Zipp. "My patience is running out, Zephyrina..." Tails mumbled to himself. Seems she hasn't learned anything after all, not even now that Misty is free of secrets. Now, the group was passing by the playground of Bridlewood, with Sunny, Zipp and Tails ahead of the rest. "Just go easy on her." Sunny told Zipp. "I am, but we're running out of time." Zipp pointed out with a frown. "If you're trying to prevent a catastrophe, you're doing a terrible job, Zippy." Tails told her with a deadpan. "Besides, it doesn't matter how much you prepare for Eggman and Opaline. It won't change anything." Zipp stopped and looked at Tails with a frown. "What do you mean with that?! And why are you against me when you should be the one agreeing with me the most?!" "A) Yes, I wanna know what Misty's visions are as well, but if attacking her with questions she can barely answer because somepony is invading her space like always, then I don't wanna be a part of it." Tails replied with anger. "And B) Like it or not, none of us will be ready for when either Eggman or Opaline pull their next move. Why? Because we never where when they both attacked previously." "Huh?" Both Zipp and Sunny said confused. "Eggman literally showed up out of nowhere on Wishday." Tails began to list out. "Metal Sonic and the Metal Mane? No one saw them coming! Misty taking Sparky to Opaline? We never doubted her. Eggman showing up on the mountains and attacking us? Completely unexpected. You guys getting ponynapped by Eggman after 'defeating' Opaline? Yeah, sure. The Death Egg Titan? We barely had anytime to react! And don't get me started on the strange portal that dragged us in Starfall Islands." "Okay, okay! That's a big recap of everything that has happened so far..." Zipp deadpanned slightly. "But what does any of that has to do with what Opaline and Eggman might be up to now?" "We were never prepared for any of that, and look where we are!" Tails pointed out, but now with a smile. "You're worrying a lot, Zippy. Just let things happen when they have to. I'm not saying that is bad to be prepared, but Eggman and Opaline are unpredictable. They may attack at any second and we might not be prepared in the moment." This only concerned Zipp a lot more, although a part of her believed that Tails was right on her being too intense over Misty. And, unlike Pipp, she wasn't that hurt with Tails' criticism over her methods, even if he's her boyfriend now. She's new to the whole thing of love, and she isn't sure on how to express it without feeling embarrassed for showing affection in public, specially when the last thing she wants is to be trend everywhere for another week after announcing her relationship with Tails. Misty, on the other hand, walked behind the group, but then gasped when she saw a foal on a swing with his father pushing him... It made her remember something all of a sudden. In a foggy day in Bridlewood, Filly Misty was on the same swing, laughing happily. Suddenly, however, she heard an echo, which made her confused. "Huh?" "Misty! Misty! Misty!" Tails' voice echoed, as she was brought back to reality. Back to the real world, Misty was a bit confused on what happened. "Are you okay?" Zipp asked her, as she and the rest huddled around her. "You zoomed out for a moment." Tails told her with concern. Then, Sunny saw Misty's Cutie Mark glowing. "Look, her Cutie Mark!" "It worked!" Zipp exclaimed. "You had another vision, didn't you?" "Ugh… I don't think it was a vision." Misty replied, denying with her head. "It felt like… a memory." "A memory?!" Izzy asked surprised. "You mean… Maybe you are from Bridlewood?" "I don't… It's too foggy. I can't remember." Misty explained. "Eh, something's better than nothing." Knuckles shrugged "We must be on the right track!" Zipp said with a smile, then she turned to Misty. "What did you see?" "I think I was a filly in that playground." Misty said, pointing mostly at the swing in the playground. Izzy gasped after hearing that. "I played there when I was a filly!" She walked up to the playground. Zipp then turned back to Misty. "Uh, who were you with?" She asked desperately. "I want to know, but I just don't––" Misty tried to say, but Zipp cut her off. "You must remember something from your fillyhood." Zipp said, as she brought out her phone again. "Before Opaline? Just think!" "I don't want to anymore." Misty replied with a frown, then looking away concerned, while Sunny came to her. "It's okay, Misty. You don't have to have all the answers right now. I'm sure you'll remember eventually." Sunny assured her softly, then glared daggers at Zipp. "Right, Zipp?" Zipp flinched at her look and felt a bit nervous. "Right, of course." She shook her head, now feeling guilty for how she treated Misty. "It's okay, Misty. I'm sorry." As this happened, the three mares heard something behind, so they turned to see that Tails was doing something on his watch, while at the same time, he made several small yellow drones with his face appear thanks to his powers. "Tails?" Misty called out. "What are you––" "I'm drawing quest lines to Eggman and Opaline all over Equestria." Tails replied, as more drones appeared. There were around 90 of them. "100 miles in each city should be enough to find something. And, as soon as there's even the slightest sign of Opaline, Eggman, or any of the latter's machines..." His watch made a beep sound, and so did the rest of Team Sonic's, although only Amy noticed, because Sonic was busy using his legs to make the carousel spin at top speed, while Knuckles was riding it and laughing out loud, although he was also feeling dizzy, making Amy facepalm at their attitude. "Yeah, that's going to happen." Tails said with a smile. "I can't be looking for Eggman and help Misty at the same time the way I'd like, but if keeping track of Eggman and Opaline while helping Misty to remember anything is going to make you feel safer, Zipp, then so be it." Zipp felt touched after hearing why Tails was doing this, and she couldn't help but smile. "Y-You're doing this for me?" "For both of you!" Tails pointed at Misty as well. "I care for you both, you dummy. And I don't like to be mad with you, so if this can help ease the tension, and make you less intense with your detective side, then again: So be it." Zipp smiled more, and then she hugged him tightly, while Tails chuckled and hugged her back. She isn't the kind to be affective in public, but he could already feel he was her weak spot. Soon the group choose to keep going, while Izzy slide down from the slide and screamed in joy, before she crashed against something that made a loud noise, but she giggled and caught up with the others. Finally, Sonic and Amy followed as well, with Knuckle following them a bit dizzy. However, Sonic once again looked at the corner of his eye, but then he looked entirely on said direction and panicked when he saw Cyber Sonic juggling some crystals and shaking his right index finger as saying 'no' mockingly. Sonic panicked and shook his head looking away from said direction and still walking ahead. "He's on your head, Sonic. Don't let him get the best of you..." He didn't noticed, though, that Shadow saw his strange attitude, and he frowned slightly concerned. The group was now passing by the Crystal Tea Room. As Izzy was ahead of the rest, hopping happily and singing, Misty stopped and noticed the tea shop. "What's that?" Misty asked curiously. "That's Alphabittle's shop: The Crystal Tea Room!" Pipp answered with a smile. "He's the best tea maker in all of Bridlewood." Tails told her with a smile as well. "Oh, you'll probably meet him later." Izzy said, coming up to them. "But first, we need to visit the Wishing Tree to see if it's the tree of your dreams!" "And to find something even more powerful than bliss-quartz to help Sparky." Hitch added, gesturing to the still down baby dragon that was laying on Hitch's back. "We'll find a cure, Hitch. No matter what." Knuckles assured him with a determinate look. Misty, however, looked back at the Tea Room, having a strange feeling about that place, before she followed her friends. Inside the Crystal Tea Room, things seemed to go as usual. Also, Queen Haven and Alphabittle were talking to each other, while Cloudpuff played with an armadillo. "You know Alphabittle, you should really consider opening a second Tea Room in Zephyr Heights." Haven suggested with a smile. "The Pegasi would go wild for a shop like this." Alphabittle caught a vase an armadillo accidentally knocked over, and then he placed it down. "Ya think?" "And, then I could see you more often." Haven added with a warm smile, before sighing. "Ugh. With my royal duties it's hard for me to make it to Bridlewood as often as I'd like." Alphabittle smiled at first, but said smile faded away. "Well, that would be nice. But I could never leave Bridlewood." He turned away with a sad look. "Why ever not?" Haven asked confused. "I just, I need to be here in case." Alphabittle replied, remaining mysterious the whole time, but clearly afraid of missing something in case he left. "In case of what, Alphie?" Haven asked concerned. "In case of all sorts of things!" Alphabittle snapped for a moment, before he calmed down. "It takes a lot of work to run a tea shop." He reasoned while gesturing his Tea Shop, before looking at the sections of teas he had. "Anyway, what do you want? Your usual? With oat milk, I assume?" "Hmm…" Haven hummed, wondering what got Alphabittle seemed to avoid the question she made. The sun started to set down in the horizon. Meanwhile: The Mane 6, Team Sonic and Shadow made it to the Wishing Tree, which made Misty smile widely. "Izzy, you were right! This is the same tree from my vision!" Misty exclaimed happily. "Let me see..." She looked at the side of the tree. "The Bunnycorn led me here, but then… there was a glowing door." She looked around to see if she could find said door. "Where is it?" "Wait, this is the Wishing Tree?" Knuckles questioned, looking closely at it. "Now that it doesn't has snow... It looks very familiar to me..." "Everyone split up, look for that door!" Zipp instructed, then everyone went on their own to look for the door. "This is weird." Izzy said as she tilted her head, before smiling. "I love it!" As the group searched around the tree, Misty got close to it and looked around as well. "No door this way!" Pipp called out from her side. "I've got nothing either!" Hitch informed next. "No magic doors over here!" Sonic said as well. Just then, Misty touched the muss on the tree, then gasped when she had another flashback. Filly Misty stared at the Wishing Tree, while tick fog surrounded her. "Hello?! Is anypony there?!" Misty asked nervously. "Misty!" A mysterious male voice called out, which Misty seemed to recognize. "I'm right here!" Misty called out, as she jumped over a stem, still looking for the source of the voice. "Misty, come back!" The voice yelled out as the fog moved towards Misty. Misty yelped in fright as she moved around blindly in the fog. "Why can't they hear me?!" "Misty, where are you?!" The voice yelled again. "I'm here!" Misty responded, but then she stopped and gasped as the fog surrounded her. "Help me!" The fog caught her, making the filly cry in fear, but when the fog suddenly cleared out, Misty looked around and saw that she was not in Bridlewood anymore. She was now near a cliff... One not so far away from a dark and scary castle that could be witnessed in the distance. Misty came back to reality and started to cry. She moved back away from the tree, while Tails immediately rushed at her side and side-hugged her fro comfort when he heard her crying, and the rest arrived with her as well. "Misty! What happened? Are you okay?!" Tails asked her in panic. "Hey, hey, you're safe now." Izzy said, as she came from the other side and huddled close to her, just like Tails did. "I remember more of it now." Misty said solemnly, then she stood up and looked at the tree. "I did live here when I was small. But then one day, I went out collecting Glowpaz crystals and I got lost in the forest, and when I tried to make my way back, Bridlewood... was gone." She explained as her friends gave her sympathy looks. Even Shadow, who couldn't kept his cool that much. "Just… gone." "Wherever you appeared, it must be when Opaline found you..." Tails theorized. "And then... Then..." "She 'took you in', and turned you into her minion." Sonic said with concern, before frowning and close his hand in a fist. "Next time I see that Alicorn... I won't kill her... But she'll learn why messing with my friends is a big mistake." "... That Opaline gal should be afraid." Shadow muttered to himself. As annoying as he found Sonic, he had to recognize that when Sonic gets serious, he gets serious. On the other hand, however, Misty lay on the tree and placed her hooves on its trunk. But she didn't noticed that her Cutie Mark and her hooves began to glow. And now, said glow was spreading through the Wishing Tree, something everyone else noticed with wide eyes. "Misty, your Cutie Mark, it's glowing stronger." Sunny said amazed. "It's doing something to the tree. Look!" Hitch pointed out with an amused smile. They all look at the tree, noticing Misty's magic spreading through the cracks and stems of the Wishing Tree, making it glow brightly. "For the love of Chaos..." Amy exclaimed amazed. "Your powers are changing the Wishing Tree?!" Izzy asked surprised, while Misty smiled at her. "Perhaps you're more special than I thought, Mist!" Tails told her with a smile, and Misty blushed at his compliment. "Be present, Pipp." She told herself, holding her head with a desperate look and a twitchy eye, while Zipp gave her an amused smirk. "I don't need to film this right now. It's way better to be mindful." "You're gonna explode, Pipp. Just record it already." Sonic said with a deadpan. "I said it was bad you overused your phone when we were alone, not witnessing something that actually calls to be recorded!" Just then, the flowers on the Wishing Tree started blooming, having either blue or purplish glows, while the Unicorns around, as well as the critters, watched amazed at what they were witnessing. And then, Pipp came between Izzy and Misty. "Did anybody ge that on video?!" She asked desperately. "Yup!" Tails replied with a smirk, as a drone with his face came down and made a fist come out, then the drone and Tails fist bumped each other, since the drone recorded the whole thing. Pipp sighed in relief after hearing that. "Thank hoofness." "I… I did that?" Misty asked with an amusing smile. "Whoa! I think so." Zipp chuckled. But then, everyone heard a strange sound, like flapping wings, and they began to look around confused, also searching for the source of the strange sound. "What’s that sound?" Sunny asked her friends. "Is the tree vibrating?" "No." Izzy spoke, then she climbed up Pipp's head, which surprised the pegasus for a bit, before Izzy listened closely to the tree. "It… it sounds like…" She then gasped and pushed Pipp away in shock. "No, it couldn't be. I didn't think they were real." "You didn't think what was real?!" Zipp questioned, standing defensively in front of Pipp, Izzy and Misty. Knuckles was hearing closely as well, and then his eyes shot wide open, but a huge smile also formed on his face. Then, he dragged Sonic, Tails and Amy at his sides, confusing them as they looked at Knuckles. "You guys are hearing what I know we're hearing?!" Knuckles asked them all with a huge grin. Sonic, Tails and Amy decided to hear closely at said sound, but then one by one, going from the former to the latter, their eyes widened, and they started to hear it as well. "No freaking way..." Sonic muttered, and then a smile was drawn on his face. "No freaking way!" "It's been years since we saw them!" Tails pointed out with a huge smile. "I'd never thought we'll see them again!" "Okay. This is happening. Calm down, Amy. Is okay. No need to loose your cool over this..." Amy told herself, but she still couldn't help but squeal a bit and hop on her place with excitement. "Wait... You guys recognize that sound?" Sunny asked Team Sonic confused. And then, small pixie-like creatures leaving a glowing trail behind them as they fly around the tree. "Ah! Oh!" Izzy said surprised and then laughed. "Breezies!" Both Izzy and Team Sonic said at the same time, although the latter group seemed to be more excited, with Knuckles even shaking Sonic violently, although the Hedgehog was laughing and not annoyed. The Breezies flew down, and while most of the group ducked down, Izzy and Team Sonic didn't, and Sonic even let some of them pose around his body, while most of them began to carry Knuckles around, making the Echidna chuckle. Meanwhile, Hitch protected Sparky as the Breezies came to them, but when Hitch saw that they were not a threat, Hitch smiled and let them look at Sparky. However, the baby dragon waved them away, not excited nor interested, and only wanting to sleep more. A breezie flew to Sunny, who looked at it amazed. "No way! My dad always old me bedtime ponytails about breezies." She said joyfully, while a few more of them flew up to her. "Tale? No, no, no, Sunny-bunny!" Sonic said with a smirk. "These little fellas are as real as Discord is. Too bad he's not relevant to this story anymore." Pipp brought out her phone, ready to take a picture, but then she stopped herself. "What? Wait... This is not content. This is a real moment. Experience it, Pipp." She told herself, tapping her head, taking a deep breath, and then looking at the breezies. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Princess Pipp Petals of Zephyr Heights. And you must be…" The Breezies then started speaking in high-pitched gibberish as they tried to say something, but Pipp didn’t get it. "Tiny pixie pony of… tree?" Pipp guessed confused, before the Breezies looked at her phone. "What in the hay are breezies?!" Zipp asked desperately, looking at the Breezies in panic. "And most importantly, are they dangerous?" "What?! Of course not." Hitch said with a smile. "They're very inoffensive." Tails assured her with a smile. "Their only scary power is that they know where to tickle you until you are writhing with laughter." "Wait... You guys know the Breezies?!" Izzy asked Team Sonic in shock. "Yup!" Amy replied with a smile. "We go way back before coming to Equestria." "But the Breezies are an Equestrian legend!" Hitch pointed out, but then his eyes widened. "Unless is another thing our dimensions share in common..." "It wouldn't be weird." Sonic said with a smirk, while some Breezies nuzzled on his cheeks. "Aw, I missed you too, little fellas!" "And how did you met the Breezies?" Sunny asked curiously. "Oh, that actually is quite a fun story!" Knuckles said with a smile. Angel Island - 17 Years Ago... A young Team Sonic was exploring Marble Garden's abandoned ruins. Knuckles was guiding everyone else by going in front. Behind came Sonic, then Tails, and Amy was the last one in the back. Knuckles himself guided them all towards this place because he discovered something recently. The young Team arrived into a zone never explored before of the garden, which gave Sonic a bad feeling, and made both Tails and Amy hide behind him, for his eternal annoyance, since he rolled his eyes. Then, Knuckles gestured them to follow him, and so they did. Once they reached deeper into the zone, the began to see a blue glow in the distance, and when they finally approached the end, Knuckles smiled, while the other three's jaws dropped in amazement. They were looking at a tree that looked way too similar to the Wishing Tree, but with red wood instead of purple, although the blue glow around was the same. They all came closer to see the tree better, while Knuckles explained that he found this recently, and that it wasn't here before. Sonic was about to ask what he meant with that, but then they heard the same buzzing sounds from the Breezies, and then, said creatures appeared in front of them, as they approached the young Team. Tails and Sonic stepped back, the former a bit afraid they'll be dangerous, and the latter doing it to protect him in case they were, but Knuckles told them about what they are, how inoffensive they are, and how he always thought they were just a legend from his ancestors. Amy was already loving these creatures, as she huddled some closely and hugged them, while Tails was still hesitant at first, but he eventually opened up a bit and liked them too. Knuckles also seemed to like them, specially because he always wanted to see a breezie. Finally, Sonic was not so sure on if to like them or not, but as soon as they Breezies began to tickle him on his most ticklish areas, he started to writhing with laughter, and he ended up liking them as well. As Knuckles finished narrating, Sonic was actually writhing with laughter. That's because the Breezies were tickling him on his most ticklish spots again, and even though he begged them to stop, he was still writhing with laughter, making everyone else but Shadow laugh as well, although Shadow did smirked mockingly at the scene. Then, a breezie spoke to Hitch's ear. "They're just excited to see us!" He translated, then another breezie spoke. "These two say they haven't seen other ponies for a long time." "You know Breezie language too?" Sunny asked surprised. "It's our pony language. But at too high of a speed for most to understand them." Hitch explained as Zipp came up to them. "Duh!" Sonic said with a smile, as he stood up and fixed himself after all that tickling. "Their voices sound more high-pitched than what they are. Thankfully, I can understand them." "You too?" Pipp asked him with a smile. "Vibration!" Sonic said, as his body literally vibrated. "I just have to reduce my speed in real time to understand these guys, while also talking with you." Then, a Breezie told Sonic something on the ear, and he began to vibrate so fast that no one actually noticed. "Oh, you guys wanna show them that?" Sonic asked them with a smirk. "Show us what?" Sunny asked. "Better ask them yourselves! I won't ruin the surprise." Sonic replied. "I can help with that!" Zipp said, as she brought out her phone again. "Watch this." She turned on the phone and used the speaker, then approached it to the Breezes. "What were you saying again?" She asked, while the breezies repeated themselves. Once they finished, Zipp stopped the recording. "Now, just slow it down." She then played it again. "We haven't seen new friends for hundreds of moons! We have a special treat for you!" The first breezie, a pink one, said from the phone. "Follow us, new and old friends. The Night Market awaits!" The second breezie, a yellow one, declared, while they pointed to the tree. "Night Market?" Misty asked confused. "What's that Izzy?" Izzy then popped up between Misty and Pipp with a gasp. "I have no idea! Something in Bridlewood I never knew about?! I've gotta see this!" Then, the breezies led the group and the other ponies to the Wishing Tree, while the Breezies approached the center of the Wishing Tree to crack it open with a glow coming through it. The Mane 6 watched amazed, while the Breezies revealed a hidden passage, at the same time it made a trail for them to go inside. "Wow!" Sunny said surprised. "Oh, just you wait 'till see the inside!" Tails said with excitement, as he started to drag Sunny a bit faster by grabbing her from her hoof, while Sunny giggled at Tails' enthusiasm. The ponies who saw the whole decided to go with them, as well as the critters, while they all entered the passage. Inside the tree, there was literally a whole new world. There were stands and bridges on top with many, making everyone but Team Sonic get amazed, even Shadow and Sparky. "Wow!" Misty awed at the sight. "How'd they do this?" Sunny asked amazed, as she looked around. "It looks like it goes on forever!" "The Breezie world is a pocket dimension connected to all the other ones." Tails began to explain with a smile. "It shifts around every once in a while, but some areas remain open to travel between their world and the others at will. This is just a part of their land." "The only accessible one for our sizes, anyways." Amy added with a smile as well. "Amazing!" Sunny exclaimed happily. "I can't believe this has all been hiding inside the Wishing Tree." "So that's why the Wishing Tree seemed familiar... Is because it looks exactly like the one in Marble Garden on my island!" Knuckles realized with a smile. "Although that tree was red, but eh. Details." Then, a breezie came to Zipp and said something, while Zipp recorded her voice and played the audio. "In these stalls, there are magical items and secrets that have been lost to your ponykind for generations!" As they explained that, they also showed some lost relics, artifacts and other items on the stands. "Really?" Sunny asked excitedly. "There's a lot of cool stuff around here." Sonic said with a smirk. "And, if you look deeper, you'll find something you never knew you wanted and/or needed, but now you do!" "Hear that, Sparks?" Hitch asked Sparky, who looked sad again. "This wonderful place has gotta have something to get you feeling better in no time!" "And maybe more answers to my past." Misty added with a hopeful smile. "Only one way to find out." Zipp said, as they all walked further into the market. "Digs on the ice cream floor!" Tails challenged Sonic, as he boosted away with a chuckle. "Oh, no you won't!" Sonic said with a smirk, accepting the challenge and boosting towards him. Near the Tea Room, a breezie was passing by the place. Then, the creature flew towards it, while inside, Alphabittle and Haven kept chatting to each other. "I understand if you're not ready to share everything about your life with me." Haven said honestly, while an elder unicorn opened the door, which made a few Breezies flew in and behind Haven. "But I feel like you're avoiding my questions." Alphabittle looked at the Breezies behind her, and his eyes widened in shock. "Breezies?!" "Please stop changing the subject." Haven deadpanned, since she hasn't noticed the Breezies behind her. "And that's nonsense, there's no such thing as…" The breezies flew in front of her all of a sudden, and that make her yelp in surprise, before gasping. "Oh my…" Then, Cloudpuff woke up and started to bark at the breezies, which made some fly away. "It's okay, Cloudpuff, these are… ponies!" Haven said, since she's not so sure because of this being her first time ver seeing Breezies in real life. A breezie flew up to Alphabittle, and he looked a bit uncertain at the creature in front of him. "Uh, oh… Welcome to my shop. May I offer you some… tea?" He brought out a cup of tea. The breezie respond by sitting in the tee like a hot tub, while Alphabittle look at the creature confused. "Hmm, well, okay. Sure, whatever you want!" Alphabittle shrugged with a smile. "It seems like they're trying to tell us something." Haven suggested, while the Breezies gestured them to the door. The Queen, Alphabittle, and other ponies around the Tea Shop followed the breezies, which flew out of the door. "Wow. You don't see this everyday or any day! Ever! Hmm…" Alphabittle commented. The breezie in the teacup then flew out of the shop as well, while Cloudpuff barked and followed the creature. "Okay, everypony, I'm closing early." Alphabittle announced. "Let's go see what this is about!" And so, everypony in the Teashop left to follow the Breezies towards the Wishing Tree. Meanwhile, at the Night Market, the Mane 6 and Shadow were looking around the stands. At the same time, Team Sonic seemed to move around freely. Since they've been here before, they know the place pretty well even though some things have changed over time. "Oh… I can't use my phone to look up which ingredients would work in my new beauty line." Pipp told Izzy and Amy, since they were at a stand with various ingredients and a few bottles. "So I'll have to go on instinct." "Oh! How do you do that?" Izzy asked her. "Like the Pegasi who came before me!" Pipp declared dramatically as she picked up a bottle. "I'll base it on touch and smell." She opened the bottle and sniffed it. "Oh, safflower, that could be nice." She said, but then she sniffed another bottle that made her cringe. "Oh, nuh-uh. Not that one." "Remember what Sonic said, Pipp?" Amy reminded her with a smile. "If you look deeper, you'll find something you never knew you wanted and/or needed." Then, a Breezie opened another bottle and passed it over to Pipp, as she sniffed it. "Oh! I'm getting notes of grapeseed, jasmine…" She listed out, before sniffing the bottle again. "And glitter essence? I'll take this one! How much?" The Breezie said something at fast/high-pitched paste, also pointing at Pipp's phone. "Wait, wait, wait. I can't trade my phone." Pipp said nervously, while Izzy saw something from another stand that made her smile, so she walked up to it, leaving Amy on her own to deal with Pipp's shenanigans. "I may be getting better at this 'being present' thing, but that is too far!" "Don't you have, like, spare phones or something?" Amy reminded her with a deadpan. Then, Izzy squealed joyfully, as Pipp and Amy turned to see her looking at some fabrics. "This fabric will be perfect for new curtains for the Crystal Brighthouse!" She said cheerfully, hugging one of the fabrics. "Oh, thank you unicorn ancestors for guiding us to this secret trove of treasures!" She nuzzled the fabric. On the other hand, Shadow seemed to find himself interested in a sector that had all kinds of old ruins and rubble from several places he both recognized - like Angel Island, Sand Ruins, and even some rubble from the ARK he hasn't seen in ages - and didn't - there was a massive piece of crystal that probably comes from the Crystal Empire, for example. "I've gotta admit... This place seems more interesting than I'd thought it'll be." Shadow muttered. "Never judge a book by its cover!" Sunny said cheerfully, as she came up to him with a smile. "You must be feeling in the clouds with so many artifacts you heard about, yet never had the chance to see." Shadow told her with a mocking smirk. "Oh, you bet I am!" Sunny replied with a smile. On the other hand, Hitch held up a bottle and headed to Sparky, who was being watched by Knuckles. "The Breezies said this oil has been used to revitalize pony energy since the earliest days of Equestria. Maybe it'll work on dragons!" "Is worth a shot." Knuckles said with a concerned frown, then he turned to Sparky. "What do you think, Sparks?" Hitch opened the bottle and approached it to Sparky, who sniffed the oil, but then he gurgled and shook his head, before laying down again. Both Hitch and Knuckles looked at Sparky with concern, but then a Breezie flew towards the baby dragon and covered him with his blanket, while another Breezie gave him his pacifier, which made Hitch and Knuckles smile a bit. On the next floor: Sunny, Zipp, Misty, Shadow, Sonic and Tails walked around it, until Sunny approached a stand that had some rocks and a compass. Sunny gasped when she saw the compass, so she picked it up. "This reminds me of something my dad used to have. If only he could see me now, pursuing precious objects thought to be lost to history!" "He'd be so proud. Or jealous!" Zipp told her with a laugh, while Sunny rolled her eyes, and then Shadow came to her. "But it'll definitely would lean more to the 'proud' side." Shadow told her with a smirk and a wink, which made Sunny smile even widely. On the other hand, Sonic noticed an owl statued right besides the compass that Sunny picked up, and he picked said statue with a nostalgic smile, but also with a sad expression. "... I know that look." Tails said once he noticed, but as soon as he saw what Sonic was holding, he gasped with wide eyes, and then he got the same sad expression than him. "What's that?" Sunny asked them. "... One of Longclaw's many lost relics from her tribe." Sonic replied. "She always told me that she barely had anything left from them, except for a few of these statues. She traded this one for a fabric she found to repair her scarf." "She knew about the Breezes?" Zipp asked him. "We couldn't keep the secret for more than 2 seconds, and we told her." Tails replied with a sad smile. "She ended up coming here by herself." "I wish I had something as valuable to exchange this." Sonic said sadly, putting the statue back on its place. "Is not really magical or miraculous, but it'll be a nice memory from her." "You guys still miss her, don't you?" Sunny asked with concern. "Everyday." Tails replied with low ears, before they perked up and he tried not to cry. "It barely gets easier." "That's because the pain hasn't left, Tails." Sonic pointed out. "It never leaves. You just learn to live with it over time." "Yeah, that is true." Zipp said, since she knows what it feels like to loose someone close and important. She choose to shake her head and change the subject. "So uh… how about you, Misty?" She asked, looking around the stands. "Getting any clues about…" She stopped when she noticed that Misty was standing alone in a corner, while looking straight. "Huh, Misty?" Tails noticed this as well, and he frowned concerned. "Mist? You okay?" As a filly, Misty was passing through some ponies on Bridlewood. However, she started to grow nervous while looking around in fright, because she got lost, and she was trying to find someone she knows, but then she gasped. "No!" Misty shouted, as she shook her head and saw her friends in front of her. "What did you just see!?" Zipp asked. "I… I was shopping at a place a little like this." Misty started to explain, while looking around the market. "It was definitely Bridlewood. Unicorns everywhere. But I couldn't see who I was with." "These flashbacks and visions are getting out of hand..." Tails said with concern, rubbing his chin. "I wonder what it was around here that triggered the memory this time." Zipp wondered, before Cloudpuff suddenly came flying by and tackled Zipp to the ground. "Ah!" She yelped and rolled to the floor on her back, as she saw Cloudpuff barking happily. "Cloudpuff?!" The pup began to lick her, and Zipp laughed at this. "Where did you come from? Mom must be here." Then, they heard Queen Haven's laughter and turned to to see her and Alphabittle looking at two stands, although Haven's laugh made Shadow look around concerned at first, before looking at que Queen with wide eyes. "Ugh, I'll never get used to her laughs." Sonic deadpanned. "No offense to her Majesty, but I thought that was a witch laughing." Shadow said with a concerned frown and his arms crossed. "Wouldn't be so far from the truth." Zipp chuckled. "I'll be right back!" With that being said, Cloudpuff and Zipp walked up to Queen Haven, while she turned and saw her daughter. "Darling, I didn't know you were here!" Haven told Zipp with surprise and joy. "How lovely! Can you believe this remarkable place? I've never seen anything like this in all my days." As Haven picked up a bottle, Alphabittle was next on the stand besides theirs, holding a cup of tea that a Breezie gave him, as they also gestured at it. "So you're sayin' if I can correctly guess what herbs you used in this tea, you'll give me the whole bag?" Alphabittle asked, while the breezie nodded, and Alphabittle smirked, cause he loved challenges. "You're on. I've never met a tea blend I can't name in three sips!" Soon, Alphabittle sipped on the tea and tasted it to see what kind of herbs there is in it, while Sunny, Misty, Shadow, Sonic and Tails walked behind him without him noticing. Pipp was close to the rest, trying to keep a couple of breezies away from taking her phone, as she held onto it while Zipp came to her sister and laughed at her situation. "Hey sis, how's the mega-pega-mindfulness going?" Zipp teased her sister, while the Breezies tapped over Pipp's phone. "Amazingly." Pipp answered with a smile. "I've never felt more clear. Can't say the same for these breezies though." The breezies kept messing with her phone and said something, while Sonic came by and chuckled at them. "What's so funny?" Pipp asked Sonic with a slight frown. "Nothing special. The breezies just think that your phone is some kind of magic." Sonic said with a smile. "Quoting their words: They've never seen magic like this before." As Sonic translated their words, the two breezies started to fight over who gets to use the phone now. "I tried to take it away from them, but they just started crying." Pipp explained as she leaned close to her sister and boyfriend's ear. "I think they might have a real problem." "Or they're just impressed with a screen for the second time." Sonic deadpanned. "And yes, is the second time, because Tails had a problem with his Miles Electric too when he brought it up our first time here." "And what did he do?" Pipp asked, hopefully to get a solution to keep the breezies away from her phone. "He built a new one and give it to them so he could keep the original." Sonic replied, then turned around and walked away. "That's not really helpful..." Pipp deadpanned. Sonic chuckled after hearing that, but then he noticed that, near a stand, Cyber Sonic appeared again, and he was holding a very similar owl statue to the one Sonic saw before. Then, Cyber Sonic crushed it with his hand, before looking over at Sonic and chuckle sinisterly. This made Sonic feel anxious and then move away, something that Shadow noticed as he stood besides Sunny and Misty in a fruit stand, and he frowned, because he was getting tired of Sonic's strange attitude. "Mind if I stop here?" Sunny asked Misty and Shadow. "Those fruits look out of this world!" She exclaimed, then she turned to them and shook a bit with a smirk. "Or should I say 'inside this tree'?" She started to laugh at her own joke. "Because inside the tree… Ah, okay." "Wow, not a good joke." Shadow mumbled, and he looked at Sunny concerned. "You hang too much with Sonic, and I don't like that." "I'm actually with you on this one, Shads..." Sonic said with a cringed expression. "That joke was a 4/10 at its best." "You're being way too humble." Shadow deadpanned, and Sonic deadpanned back with an eye roll. "Okay..." Misty said awkwardly, looking around and stepping back. "I'll… wait over here." Just then, a breezie came to Misty and told her something. "Uh, what? Me?" She asked confused, before the breezie nodded and flew off. "Hey, wait up!" Misty decided to follow the breezie, chasing her to a room where the creature entered, and then they came back with a key. "A key? But I don't understand." Misty said confused, holding up the key. "What is this for?" Since the Breezie is aware that Misty does not speak as fast as them, they wrote down their answer, then showed it to Misty so she could read it. "This enchanted key will take you to the play you most want to go." Misty read before, she saw something else written down. "One time use only?!" She asked surprised, then took a closer look at the key. "Why is this so familiar?" She asked herself, but then, the key started to glow blue, and it showed a symbol that Misty recognized. "It belongs to the door in my memory. But how did you know…" However, she trialed off when she noticed that the Breezie was gone, and so was the door they got the key from. "What, where did you go? Hello? Sunny? Tails?!" Misty asked, as she looked around, but then noticed that the market was gone, and nopony was around, as fog started forming and made her panic. "Wait, no!" Yet it was way too late, because the fog swallowed her and took her Chaos knows where. Alphabittle was still trying to guess the herbs from the tea. Just then, Haven was arriving with him, but she noticed that his Cutie Mark was glowing. "Alphie! Your Cutie Mark!" "Look at that!" Alphabittle said with a smile. "Must be the magical properties of this tea. Or the thrill of a new challenge!" He smirked, then looked at the Breezie. "Saddles off to you! I haven't tasted oolong that smooth in… oh, a long time." Just then, Haven's daughters and Sonic walked up to Haven and Alphabittle, with Zipp looking with interest at Alphabittle's Cutie Mark glowing. "Hm, that's so strange. That's been happening to our unicorn friend all day, too." "You mean Izzy?" Alphabittle asked confused. "No. A new friend of ours." Sonic answered with a smile. "You probably don't know her because she was living…" He stopped himself when he thought better that it's for the best to keep Misty's life as a secret from everypony else, so he shook his head and smiled sheepishly. "You know what? It doesn't matter right now. Is just a long story." Just then, Sunny and Shadow came walking by, with Sunny holding a basket with fruits, while Shadow was eating coffee beans with a hand and munching them as happy as he's willing to show. "Huh... I'd never seen you smiling that much, Shadow." Sonic said with a smirk, and even if everyone else just saw the same grumpy Shadow, Sonic seemed to be the only one noticing that he was happy. "This are coffee beans. What outcome did you expected?" Shadow asked mockingly, as he still munched "Oh, here they are. I'll introduce you right now!" Zipp said with a smile, but soon, she noticed that Misty wasn't with them. "Uh… where's Misty?" Sunny placed her basket down. "I last saw her at the Berry Booth. I thought she'd left to find you!" "Uh, no." Shadow said. "She ran away when a Breezie told her to follow them." "And you're telling us right now?!" Sunny was the one that scolded him, for even Shadow's surprise. "Welcome to my world, sis." Sonic deadpanned behind Shadow. "We gotta find her!" Zipp declared. Everyone else but Shadow nodded in agreement, while Shadow stood behind for a bit to keep enjoying his coffee beans, at least until Sonic grabbed him from his arm and dragged him away. Meanwhile, Tails was buying some new ingredients for a little something he's working on regarding the Transformative Substances he makes... But then his Tails poofed and showed some electricity, just like his eyes did, and he felt panic, because that never happened before. Yet he didn't liked the sudden feeling. "Something's wrong." He didn't hesitated and boosted away to gather with his friends, finding them all huddling together close. "Misty, where are you!?" Sunny called out. "Come back!" Pipp called out next. "Misty?!" Zipp said with concern. "Misty!" Sonic shouted out loudly. "Come back!" Izzy yelled. "Where did she go?" Hitch wondered as he trotted around. "Brightdawn! If this is a joke, is not funny!" Knuckles shouted as well with a concerned frown. "Misty! Are you here?!" Amy asked with concern as well. "Where is she?!" Tails' voice called out, and everyone turned to see him with panic, even Shadow, despite the fact that he wasn't calling Misty out. Then, Tails zoomed to Sonic and shook him a bit. "I said where is she?! Where's Misty?!" Sonic looked around nervously, since he felt Tails' desperation just by the tone of his voice, but he knew that lying was not an option, so he sighed frustrated and looked on his eyes with sorrow. "I... I don't know..." Sonic replied, and that made Tails' get more desperate now. "Tails, honey..." Zipp called out, and Tails turned to see her while breathing heavily in panic. "She's… gone." Tails let go of Sonic, and time itself seemed to stop around. He could barely feel his legs anymore, or his hands... Or his body in general. Whatever was happening it couldn't be good... But he was more concerned and terrified at the fact that Misty was gone. No sound came out of him, and the next thing he knew, he was laying on the floor, as his sight blurred out, while someone called his name, but he had not time to try and guess who it was. Al he knew now, was that he was unconscious, and therefore, he couldn't go and hep Misty. To be continued...